Perpetual inventory device



March 31, 1942. I H. w. MEYER 2,277,929

PERPETUAL INVENTORY DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. B fiem .I V. Meyer iwJL' v ATTORNEYJ.

March '31, 1942. H. w. MEYER 2,277,929

- PERPETUAL INVENTORY DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Henr /.44 May A ORNEY-S.

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNETED STATES PATENT @FFICE PERPETUAL INVENTORY DEVICE Henry W. Meyer, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application October 24, 1938, Serial No. 236,808

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in perpetual inventory devices.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in connection with perpetual inventory systems or the like, and has for its objects:

First, to produce a new apparatus of this type.

Second, to produce such an apparatus by means I of which one man can conveniently keep up a rather sizable perpetual inventory record in a very short time.

Third, to provide such an apparatus which is simple, convenient and easy to use.

Fourth, to provide such an apparatus in which the records which are posted to the inventory cards are conveniently placed before one using the apparatus in such a way that they need not become disarranged in the course of the various posting operations and in which the operator has all of the cards on which the posting operations are carried out within easy and convenient reach at all times.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims. A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of my apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken on broken section line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the table employed in my apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a board or table section employed to carry the records from which the postings are made.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the manner of fastening the board of Fig. 4 on the arms of the swivel chair employed in my apparatus.

My apparatus consists of a table I' having a top 2 and legs 3 disposed at the periphery thereof. An apron 4 extends downwardly from the top and has inwardly bent flanges 5 serving to stiffen the table. Diagonally across the corners are braces 6 fastened to the flange 5. The table is provided with a central circular aperture 1 and an opening 8 is provided to permit one using the apparatus to enter the opening i. Disposed in a circle around the opening 1 are a series of wells or card holders 9 to hold the inventory cards It. A flange ll extends from the top down into the opening 1 and braces I2 extend diagonally from the flange 5 to the edge of the top near the opening I in order to brace and support the top and provide knee room under the table top at the center thereof. Disposed in the center of the opening 1 and pivoted about a central vertical axis is a swivel chair [3 having a back M and arms l5. This chair is swiveled at the center of the opening I and the wells or card holding means 9 are so disposed with reference to the chair that they may be easily reached by one sitting in the chair.

Disposed across the front of the chair and resting and supported on the arms of the chair is a curved board Hi having its outer edge I! curved on the arc of a circle substantially the same as the circle of the aperture 7 of the top of the table although of somewhat larger radius. The inner edge I8 is cut away to fit around the body of one sitting in the chair. Holes H] are provided to receive pins 20 in the arms of the chair to anchor the board I l in place. This board is Preferably removable so thatone using the apparatus can seat himself in the chair [3 and may then place the board on the arms. When the board is in place on the arms, its outer edge just clears the inner edges of the wells 9 as the chair with the board is pivoted around its axis and the board in place serves substantially as a continuation of the top of the table.

The manner of using my apparatus for keeping perpetual inventory is as follows: The various cards ID of the inventory system are disposed in the wells 9; Each card, as a rule, covers a single item kept in stock and on these cards the receipt of new stock is noted and the sales from stock are also noted, preferably daily. In using the apparatus, the one keeping the records seats himself in the swivel chair and for the purpose of entering sales from stock places the sales records, usually in the form of sales slips, on the board It before him. Then in order to record each item, the operator notes the item, selects the proper card from the proper well, swiveling the chair around its axis if it is necessary to do so to reach the card comfortably. The card is removed from the file, the entry is made on the card and the sales slip is then placed at one side on the board It and the next sales slip is consulted and the entry is made. It may be necessary to swing the chair through to do this and in the course of this operation, since the sales slips are all on the desk, it is a simple matter to keep them in order, because they swivel around with the operator. It is unnecessary for the operator to turn and twist himself to reach cards located in inaccessible positions because by simply swiveling the chair around, the operator can place himself before the desired well or card holder and it is a simple matter to avoid disturbing the sales slips. In entering goods received the same process is repeated, using the appropriate records.

In order to keep the stock complete, the operator can note by suitable fiags such as are shown at 2| which items need ordering and at suitable intervals can seat himself in the chair and can select the necessary cards for ordering. In order to simplify writing orders, a typewriter as shown at 22 may be placed on the table so that the operator may, after selecting the card, type an order and then swivel around and easily and quickly return the card to its proper place in the proper well. The orders may be kept on the table I6 until this operation is completed.

I have described my apparatus in connection with a perpetual inventory system, although it will be apparent that it can be used in similar related systems.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a table having a centrally apertured top, card receiving means disposed around the aperture of the top and a chair and desk pivotally mounted for rotation about a vertical axis at the center of the aperture of said top, said desk forming substantially a continuation of said table top.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a table having a top having a central circular opening, a plurality of card receiving means annularly disposed about said opening, a swivel chair pivoted at the center of said opening, and a curved board mounted on said chair forming substantially a continuation of said table and movable with said chair as it is rotated about its pivot.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a table having a top having a central opening,

a plurality of card receiving means disposed about said opening, a swivel chair in said opening and pivoted at the center of said opening, and a board mounted on said chair forming substantially a continuation of said table and movable with said chair as it is rotated about its pivot.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a table having legs adjacent to its periphery and a top centrally apertured to form an opening for a swivel chair, braces extending from the periphery of said opening diagonally downward to the outer periphery of the table to support the central portion of said top, a swivel chair in said opening and pivoted on a vertical axis at the center of said opening, and a board mounted on said chair to form a substantial continuation of the table top and movable with said chair as it is rotated about its pivot.

5. Apparatus for keeping perpetual inventory comprising a swivel chair and desk pivotable therewith, filing means for holding perpetual inventory cards, supporting means for said filing means disposed annularly about the axis of swiveling of the chair and supporting said filing means closely adjacent the periphery of the path of movement of said desk and accessible in front of said chair and across the desk to an occupant of the chair when seated in said chair.

6. Apparatus for keeping perpetual inventory comprising a swivel chair having a desk supported at the front thereof and pivotable therewith, filing means for holding perpetual inventory cards, supporting means for said filing means disposed annularly about the axis of swiveling of the chair and supporting said filing means closely adjacent the periphery of the path of movement of said desk and accessible in front of said chair and across the desk to an occupant of the chair when seated in said chair.

HENRY W. MEYER. 

